Timed Security Box And Method Of Use

ABSTRACT

Timed security box comprising a housing, where the housing contains a plurality of items; a door attached to the housing, where the door opens on a hinge; a locking mechanism fastened to the door wherein the locking mechanism locks the door and allows access into the housing on a date and a time inputted by a user. To use the timed security box the user places an item into the housing, then closing the door. Next they enter the date and time into the locking mechanism. A recipient is then informed of when the date and time will arrive. On the date and time the timed security box may be opened automatically by the recipient or by using a pass code.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a security box that includes a lockingmechanism that allows a user to set a date and time upon which thelocking mechanism will allow access into the security box. Before theentered date and time no access into the security box will be granted.

2. Description of Related Art

Protecting personal items is a passion that many people share. Some maychoose to keep their items secure in a household closet or safe whileothers opt to place their items in vault or safe deposit box. Along withthe variety of locations where a person may place their valuables so isthe range of items that people find valuable. For example, many peoplemay place jewelry, family heirlooms, identification documentation, willsor deeds, or more obscure items like collections, childhood memorabilia,autographs or rare items.

Regardless of the items protected all of them hold some sort of meaningor value and there stems the desire to place them in a safe place.Because of the desire for protection, some users may desire higherprotection standards placed on where they store their items. Most oftenthe storage items have a key or lock that protects entry. Alternativelya keypad may require a code or password to gain access into the storageitem.

Still some people may want a way to protect their items for apredetermined period of time before permitting access to the innercontents. Therefore, it would be beneficial in the art to provide alockbox that includes a timer to deny access until a predetermined timehas arrived. It would also be desirable in the art for the lockbox toalso include multiple methods of entry.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, thepurpose of the present disclosure is to provide a security box thatincludes a locking mechanism that allows a user to set a date and timeupon which the locking mechanism will allow access into the securitybox.

An object of the present invention is to provide a safety box with alocking mechanism that allows a user to enter a date and time whereinthe locking mechanism will keep the safety box locked until the date andtime arrive.

Another object of the present invention is to allow access into thesafety box by the locking mechanism automatically opening on the entereddate and time, requiring the recipient to enter a pass code or anoverride code that allows access before the entered date is reached.

To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, atimed security box is disclosed comprising a housing, where the housingcontains a plurality of items; a door attached to the housing, where thedoor opens on a hinge; a locking mechanism fastened to the door whereinthe locking mechanism locks the door and allows access into the housingon a date and a time inputted by a user. To use the timed security boxthe user first places an item into the housing, and then closes thedoor. Next they enter the date and time into the locking mechanism. Arecipient is then informed of when the date and time will arrive. On thedate and time the timed security box may be opened automatically by therecipient or by using a pass code.

These together with other aspects of the present invention, along withthe various features of novelty that characterize the present invention,are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forma part of this present invention. For a better understanding of thepresent invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objectsattained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanyingdrawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become betterunderstood with reference to the following detailed description andclaims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a timed security box in accordancewith an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a security box that includes a lockingmechanism that allows a user to set a date and time upon which thelocking mechanism will allow access into the security box. The presentinvention provides a timed safety box as an alternative protectiondevice for valuables. The timed safety box comprises a housing with alocking mechanism attached to the door of the housing. The lockingmechanism enables a user to input a time and date upon which the lockingmechanism will prevent access into the housing until the date and timeis reached. Once the date and time is reached the recipient may berequired to enter a password or code into the locking mechanism to openthe door and access the inner contents. The timed safety box may providepiece of mind for the user knowing that their valuables are protectedand that extra security measures are taken to guard their items.

Tuning now descriptively to the drawings, referring to FIG. 1, a timedsecurity box (10) is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention. The timed security box (10) includes a housing(12) that encompasses the structure and body of the timed security box(10). The housing (12) includes top (14) and bottom walls, a pair ofside walls (16), a front end (18) and a back end (not shown). Asillustrated, the housing (12) has a rectangular shape but the housing(12) may also comprise other geometric shapes. The housing (12) may bemade from a lightweight stainless steel for easy transportation whilestill having the security of impenetrable walls. Alternatively, thehousing (12) may be made from a thick metals or metal alloys similar tothose used to make safe deposit boxes.

Attached to the front end (18) may be a door (20). The door (20) enablesa user to gain access to the inner contents of the housing (12). Thedoor (20) is made from the same material as the housing (12) to ensurethe same security through all surfaces of the timed security box (10).The door (20) may open on a hinge (22) or pair of hinges attached on aside of the door (20) or potentially on a top or bottom edge of the door(20). Fastened to an opposing end of the door (20) from the hinge (22)may be a handle (24). The handle (24) facilitates opening and closingthe door (20) during operation. The door (20) may also be placed on thetop wall (14) or the side wall (16) depending on the likes andpreferences of the users. Additionally, the door (20) may encompass aportion of the front end (18) (as shown) or the door (20) may be theentire wall (14, 16) or end (18) wherein the whole wall (14, 16) or end(18) opens rather than merely a portion.

Attached to the door (20) may be a lock mechanism (30). The lockmechanism (30) may include a display screen (32) and a keypad (34). Thelock mechanism (30) is an electronic lock that controls access to theinner contents of the housing (12). The lock mechanism (30) may beprogrammed to only allow access on a specific date and time set by aninitiating person or a facility worker (hereinafter initiator). Areceiving person (or recipient) may enter an access code on the keypad(34) which in turn shows on the display screen (32) to gain access tothe inner contents on the date programmed by the initiator.

The timed security box (10) may be used at home, in the office or at afacility that houses many timed security boxes. To use the timedsecurity box (10) the initiator may place one or more items into thehousing (12). The items may be valuables like jewelry, coins, familyheirlooms, keepsakes and the like or important paper documents likedeeds, wills, birth certificates, vehicle/house titles, stockcertificates etc. Next, the initiator closes the door (20). Theinitiator may then input a time and a date into the locking mechanism(30) using the keypad (34) for when the locking mechanism (30) will openthe door (20). Once the date and time are inputted, the lockingmechanism (30) locks the door (20) until the date and time arrive.Access into the timed security box (10) may not be granted before thedate and time inputted by the initiator. An override code may beavailable for emergencies or times of necessity wherein the overridecode unlocks the locking mechanism (30) before the date and time arereached.

Around the time when the date and time are near, a notice may be sent tothe recipient at a predetermined date to alert them that the date andtime entered into locking mechanism (30) is about to arrive. The noticemay be received via text, email, letter, automated phone call or thelike to inform the recipient that the timed security box (10) may beopened. The predetermined date may be a time period chosen by theinitiator and may be a specific amount of months, weeks, days or evenhours before the inputted date and time. The notice may inform therecipient of the location of the timed security box, the date and timefor opening, and a pass code to unlock the locking mechanism (30) andopen the door (20). The recipient may alternatively be informed of thepass code directly by the initiator if the initiator elects to informthe recipient of the pass code themselves rather than have it sentthrough the notice.

The predetermined time may correlate with the amount of time the itemsremain within the housing (12) wherein the longer the items remain inthe timed security box (10) the more time given for notice to therecipient. For example, if a deed is placed in the timed security box(10) and the initiator inputs a date 3 years from the present then therecipient may receive a notice two months in advance to preparethemselves. Alternatively, if the initiator inputs a date that willarrive within a week then the notice may be sent days or even hoursbefore the opening date.

Once the inputted date arrives, the recipient may open the door (20) byentering the pass code send to them into the locking mechanism (30). Therecipient will them gain access to the items stored within the housing(12). The pass code may not be necessary if the initiator elects not tohave a pass code. In this way the locking mechanism (30) may open thedoor (20) automatically without any additional safety measures beingtaken.

Examples of usage for the timed safety box may be when a father wishesto put money aside for his child but only once the child reaches acertain age. He may place the money in the housing, set the date forwhen the child reaches the desired age. Alternatively, a company maylock a bonus or award in the housing and after an employee has beenworking for the predetermined amount of time they may access thecontents of the housing. These are just a fraction of the possible usesfor the timed security box but present examples of potential options.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the presentinvention have been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order tobest explain the principles of the invention and its practicalapplication, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilizethe invention and various embodiments with various modifications as aresuited to the particular use contemplated.

1. (canceled)
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 5. (canceled) 6.(canceled)
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 8. (canceled)
 9. A method of using a timedsecurity box comprising the steps of: closing a door on a housing ofsaid timed security box; entering a date and time into a keypad of alocking mechanism attached to said door, where said date and timeindicates when said locking mechanism enables access into said housing,wherein said locking mechanism locks the door upon entry of the date andtime into the keypad; alerting a recipient of said date and time enteredinto the keypad; transmitting a pass code to the recipient; andunlocking said door when said date and time is reached.
 10. (canceled)11. (canceled)
 12. The method of using the timed security box accordingto claim 9 further comprising the step of unlocking said lockingmechanism by said recipient upon entry of the pass code.